Distance

Cleo's POV~

"We can't do this anymore," she said, throwing the covers off of me and getting out of bed.

"And why not?"

"Let me ask you this. When will it be enough for you? This is bound to stop at some point," she said, throwing some clothes at me.

"But you like it," I said, smirking up at her.

"Stop it; we are roommates, nothing more," she said, storming out of the room half-dressed. I got dressed and left the room, only to find her cooking half-naked.

"Are you seriously cooking in your bra and underwear? Have some decency," I said, fake gasping. She scoffed, turning around with a rubber spatula in her hand. The devilish face she made gave me the hint to run before anything happened that I would later regret. She ended up chasing after me, rubber spatula in hand; she caught up to me, and we both fell to the ground laughing.

"Are you going to stop now?" She asked, still threatening me with the spatula.

"Stop what?" I asked, confused.

"Messing with me while I make your breakfast," she said, looking over at me, a serious face plastered on.

"I don't think that's possible." I got up off the ground, holding my hand out to help her up.

"Fine, have it your way, but the next time you make fun of how I cook, you do it yourself." She walked off, her hand gripping the spatula. I followed after her and sat down at the kitchen island.

"Are you ready?" I asked, watching her cook.

"No, it's going to be weird. Christmas is right around the corner, and our apartment will be empty for nearly a month. Don't even get me started on the driving portion of it," she ranted, aggressively cooking breakfast.

"The drive isn't as bad as you think it is, plus you slept through half of it on the way down here anyway," I said.

"Not the point, but nice to know," she said, still cooking.

"What's the point then?" I asked.

"They might figure 'it' out," she finger-quoted.

"Yeah, I get it. You're known as the straightest person on this Earth, so you don't want to ruin your rep; I get it plenty." I rolled my eyes, knowing what she was talking about.

"Exactly my point; please don't make anything obvious," she pleaded.

"Can't make any promises, but I can try."

"Good. Now, breakfast is ready; let me feed the cats, then we can eat," she said, grabbing the food bowls for our cats. After breakfast, the rest of the day was spent packing for the six-hour drive we had the next day. Plus, we had two cats who had to go with us; we would have to prepare for some stops along the way so they don't get too cooped up in the car. At least all we needed to do was pack clothes because our rooms were left the way they were after high school. This Christmas reunion would be the first any of us have seen each other in three years.

*the next day*

Tyler's POV~

"Get in the truck already," I yelled from the driver's seat. It was around five in the morning, and Cole and I were trying to get to our hometown early before the rest of the group, but Cole was taking too long as usual.

"Hold on, do you see the leashes anywhere? I think we left them in the apartment," Cole said, looking around the truck for a second.

"I don't know, but we're going to be late if we don't get on the road soon," I said, a little more impatient.

"But Toki and Luna can't go without them," he said, being very persistent about the leashes thing. I got out of the truck and helped him look.

"Do they really need leashes? Can't they just walk around with our supervision?" I asked, looking around in the kitchen.

"That's against the law, and do you want our dog and cat taken away from us?" He asked with his little pouty eyes and face.

"No, so I guess we're not leaving without those leashes," I said, beginning to look harder. I looked in every cabinet until I found both of them on the hooks near the door. "Found them, now let's get going," I said, grabbing the leashes and heading out the door, Cole following me with Toki and Luna. We left shortly after, making sure everything was in the truck first, then heading on our eight-hour drive home.

*around six in the evening at Alya's house*

Kay's POV~

"Wow, I still can't believe you bought a house in our hometown; you don't even live here half of the time," I said to Alya, who was standing right next to me, holding a drink in her hand.

"Yeah, well, what can I say? I have a lot of money," she said, shrugging as she looked up at the tree they had just put up.

"When are the others coming?" Cleo asked as she jumped onto the couch.

"Around this time, I think," Alya said, snapping out of her trance. She looked at Cleo, like there was nothing in her eyes.

"Okay, I think we're both thinking the same thing," I turned to Cleo and said. I turned back to Alya, ready to ask the question I had in mind. "What's wrong? You don't seem like the same you we've known for like forever."

"Yeah, you don't seem like the same person. Did going to London do something to you?" Cleo asked.

"No, but I can tell you this: I won't tell you anything that happened there; it stays with me," she said, taking a sip of her wine.

"Why? Is it something really bad? We're your best friends; you should at least tell someone about this," Cleo suggested, looking over to Alya.

"I'm getting help, is all I will say," she said right before the doorbell rang. She rushed to go answer it, and before we knew it, Tyler and Cole were in the house with their cat Luna and their dog Toki.

"Hey guys," I said, waving at both of them. Toki automatically went to say 'hi' to Cleo and me while Tyler and Cole went to the kitchen to put down the food they had brought. They soon joined us in the living room.

"How was the trip?" Cleo dared to ask, while she pet Toki wildly.

"It was so fucking long, I swear if traffic is that bad on the way back, we might as well just stay here and quit college," Tyler complained, his arm around Cole's waist the entire time.

"No, you won't. You need that degree, and you will like the drive back because I will drive the last half of it like I always do," Cole said, trying to comfort him by putting his hand on Ty's thigh.

"I'm still wondering how the fuck you guys have stayed together for so long," Cleo said, still petting Toki. Luna jumped onto the couch to say 'hi' to Alya, but Alya just brushed her off like she was nothing. I took her and gave her all the affection she wanted.

"We don't honestly know ourselves; we just kind of made a life for ourselves, and are happy with each other. I can't really explain it," Ty said, smiling over to Cole.

"Could you guys get any more gay?" I asked, fake gagging. Cleo nudged me a little, gave me a look to stop what I was doing, but I wouldn't listen until the doorbell rang once again. Lake was at the door this time with Gayle.

"Hi," was all Lake said, waving shyly at the rest of us.

"Hey, it's so nice to finally meet you in person," Cleo said, getting up and taking her hand to shake.

"I-it's nice to meet you guys t-too," she stuttered a little, trying to look at the rest of us. Cleo seemed very interested in her already, but it could be because Gayle was talking about her non-stop in the group chat.

"You don't have to talk too much unless you want to," I said, looking from my phone to her. She gave me a smile and made a beeline to the kitchen, where Gayle and Alya were.

"I didn't mention this, but how does someone buy this nice of a house?" Ty asked, looking around more.

"You have to ask Alya on that one; she bought this place. said it was like her sanctuary." I shrugged, looking at the undecorated Christmas tree.

"How about we decorate the tree when everyone gets here? Do you guys know if Alya's siblings are coming? Or Autumn?" Cole asked, looking hopeful.

"I don't know; you'd actually have to ask the host. We haven't heard anything about Autumn, and I'd assume her siblings were coming from the start, but you never know," I said, shrugging once again. Alya, Gayle, and Lake all walked into the living room. Gayle and Lake sat on the carpeted part of the floor while Alya sat in her chair.

"Is Autumn coming? Or your siblings?" Cole asked, looking at Alya.

"To be honest, I have no idea; maybe I should text them," Alya said, pulling out her phone.

"Could we decorate the tree when everyone gets here?" Cleo asked, looking very hopeful while she petted Toki.

"Sure, that's what I planned anyway," she said, texting.

"Yay!!" Cleo exclaimed, jumping up and down in her spot.